Publishers:
	2005
		Issued 6 numbers a year

2005 nr. 1

EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

ARCHIVE

Dear colleague, Although there are several employees with looks like models in libraries, library people are, nevertheless, sever-looking four-eyed older women with plaited buns in the eyes of other people, including their depiction in belles-lettres and on the screen. We have contributed a lot to this image and it seems that we even like it (just take a glimpse at the cover illustration of a collection of library jokes published last year). However, it is obvious that the requirements for librarians and their image should change as quickly as the needs of library users do. Librarians’ attitude towards themselves, the knowledge and skills that should come with the profession are vital in shaping our professional image. These are written down in our professional requirements. However, it is difficult to take into account the professional requirements in professional training a way that all necessary skills for different posts would be covered. How would it be possible to combine subjects offered to a rural librarian and to a developer of digital research library of higher education institution in a single curriculum? How would it be possible to match these requirements with the wishes of employers? The opinions of librarians and educators might totally diverge in the matter. Some are of the opinion that professional requirements for librarians should be reviewed, and work practice at libraries has convinced the others that professional training should be radically reorganised. To ensure that the future librarian would not be disappointed, he/she should first take a tour in the desired working environment and think, if it is the job he/she wants to do, before submitting his/her job application. I pointed out only a few issues raised in the first journal number of 2005. You surely do have your own observations how does the librarians’ profession look from inside or from outside the library walls. Please write to us and do it as boldly as Olga Einasto and Marju Rist! Ene Riet Editor

CONTENTS

FIRST COLUMN Everything That Is Fine, Is Ordinary - Meeli Veskus An overview of the Ministry of Culture’s activities in developing public libraries in 2004, focusing mostly on problems highlighted in the library journal, Raamatukogu, during the year. MEMORY INSTITUTIONS Memory Institutions - Krista Aru An essay about the concept and functions of a memory institution. The Council for Digitisation – What Is It? - Mihkel Reial An overview of the first year of activities and the future plans of the Council for Digital Preservation of Estonian Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture. E-LIBRARY Digital Research Libraries in the Context of Higher Education - Sirje Virkus, Silvi Metsar A longer piece about the changes and innovations in the field of higher education and their impact on the activities of research libraries. The universities of the world are adjusting their development trends in the following six central areas: increasing importance of higher education in the context of life-long learning; internationalisation of education and scientific research; the need for developing the system of joint activities between universities and industry; rapid increase in the “production” of knowledge; reorganisation of knowledge, the emergence of new opportunities. LIBRARY EDUCATION The Diploma Papers of the Graduates of Viljandi Academy of Culture in 2004 Vocational Training, quo vadis? - Mati Muru A lecturer at the Chair of Librarianship of Viljandi Academy of Culture provides an overview of the current situation in professional vocational and in-service training. He is of the opinion that vocational training needs to be reorganised, proposing what has to be taken into account while doing it. LIBRARIANS Librarian’s Image: a Bluestocking or a Belly Dancer - Olga Einasto An overview to be published in two journal numbers of the studies conducted at Tartu University Library in spring of 2003 with an aim to analyse the role of widespread stereotypes in shaping librarians’ image and to investigate the sources of those stereotypes. The first part of the article reviews the concept of image and the portrayal of librarians on the Internet, in belles-lettres, and on the screen. For the Job Interview of a Future colleague - Marju Rist The thoughts of the National Library of Estonia’s head of a department about the skills and qualities that the leaders of structural units expect from their inferiors. The author suggests that, to avoid problems, the applicants for the jobs should make themselves clear the contents of the future work before they submit their applications. PUBLIC LIBRARIES The Ministry of Culture’s Information Technology Activities in the Area of Librarianship - Indrek Eensaar In 2000 the Ministry of Culture started to provide public libraries with Internet connection. Today about ten public libraries do not have direct Internet connection. In 2001 the ministry initiated the development of an Internet-based library software URRAM in cooperation with several institutions. Using it is easy for public libraries and does not require engaging IT specialists with special knowledge. The ministry also coordinates the organisation of digital preservation of cultural values. In 2004 the Council for Digital Preservation of Estonian Cultural Heritage was established at the Ministry of Culture. It specifies competency centres specialised on digitising different objects, where the knowledge on digitisation in the sector will be aggregated. NOTA BENE! The IFLA Cataloguing Principles The translated text of the draft approved at the IFLA meeting on cataloguing rules in 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany. PUBLIC LIBRARIES A New Library in Elva - Imbi Härson A tour in the new building of Elva Library and an overview of its renewed work organisation. SPECIAL LIBRARIES Special Libraries – Who Are We? - Katrin Gottlob An overview of a Web enquiry organised for special libraries’ autumn seminar with an aim to get a picture of libraries represented in the Estonian Libraries’ Association’s Special Libraries Section. The questionnaire included queries about libraries’ basic indicators, information system, the existence of electronic catalogue, services offered, the provision of in-service training for librarians, etc. BALTIC AND NORDIC LIBRARIES Belles-lettres in the Collections of Public Libraries of Sweden - Piret Lotman A synopsis of articles published in the Swedish library journal Biblioteksbladet (No 10/2004) that treat the acquisition and reading of belles-lettres in Swedish public libraries. BOOK HISTORY Three famous Estonian Women - Helle Remmelt An overview of a collection published by Estonian women’s organisations in 1934. It is dedicated to three women of culture, who celebrated their 70th birthday that year, – Miina Härma, a composer and organist, Anna Haava, a poetess and translator, and Aino Tamm, a singer and pedagogue. CRITICAL REVIEW Fragments and the Whole - Ilkka Mäkinen A critical review of a collection The 20th century libraries in the Baltic sea region, compiled by Piret Lotman and published in the series Transactions of the National Library of Estonia. X (Tallinn, 2004. 122 p). The reviewer considers notable that such a collection has been published in English. She praises the completeness of the collection and is of the opinion that she would like to read more such good and necessary texts. ESTONIAN LIBRARIANS’ ASSOCIATION A Retrospect on the Autumn Seminar - Katrin Gottlob An overview of the special libraries’ autumn seminar, held on 15 October 2004. It treated electronic library and reading of scholarly literature from the point of view of scientists, and provided an overview of the ELA’s Special Libraries Section’s Web enquiry on Estonian special libraries and their services. Expecting Cooperation - Sirje Bärg An overview of the discussion on important issues for rural libraries, held by the ELA’s Rural Libraries Section. The most painful matters are salaries, additional tasks, official titles and work load. Acquisition money, implementation of information technology in rural libraries and library premises were also discussed. The Friedrich Puksoo Prize 2005 Tartu University Library and the Estonian Librarians’ Association awarded the Freidrich Puksoo Prize of 2005 on 21 January in Tartu. It went to Indrek Jürjo for his monograph, Liivimaa valgustaja August Wilhelm Hupel 1737–1819 (An Enlightener of Livonia, August Wilhelm Hupel, 1737–1819). The work treats life and activities of August Wilhelm Hupel, a pastor of Põltsamaa, and his philosophical, linguistical, theological and other works. RECALLING Hillar Kattai – a Bibliographer and a Researcher of Local Heritage - Helle Valgus In February 2005 eighty five years passed from the birth of a long-standing bibliographer at Viljandi Town Library. NEWS The Central Library of Lääne-Viru County Has a New Director. Since February 2005 a long-standing Deputy Director of Tartu Public Library, Õie Tammissaar, helds the position. The Flood at Tartu University Pärnu College In the night of 9 January 2005, an extremely heavy storm flooded the coastal areas of the western parts of Estonia. The building of Tartu University Pärnu College, located by the sea, and its library also suffered damages. The Kreutzwald-days Tiina Ritson An overview of a scientific conference on monuments and myths, organised by the Estonian Literary Museum on the occasion of the 48th Kreutzwald-days. During two days numerous researchers of cultural and literary history presented their papers. Congratulations: A Full Life: Kaja Noodla –90 - Malle Ermel, Maare Kümnik, Mare Rand, Arvo Tering, Hain Tankler Besides holding the position of Deputy Director and the head of several departments of Tartu University Library, Kaja Noodla has also been an educator in the field of library science and a recognised researcher of Estonian library history. Congratulations: An Undying Imprint in the History of Culture – Endel Annus 90 - Anne Valmas Endel Annus is the initiator, supervisor, coordinator and, at the same time, practical executor of the programme of retrospective bibliographical registration of Estonian books. Eight volume of Estonian retrospective bibliography, covering the period from 1525 to 1917 have been published. Cumulative List of Contents of the Raamatukogu in 2004 - Margit Stamm

ARCHIVE

2004 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 2003 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 2002 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

2001 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 2000 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 1999 - 6, 5, 4, 3, 2